Santo Domingo, R.D.- The Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability "Alejandro E. Grullón E.", of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and the Popular Foundation, in collaboration with the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism (CNCCMDL ), concluded the Diploma Course on Solutions for Adaptation to Climate Change and Increased Resilience at the Community Level.
In the closing remarks, Elías Dinzey, General Manager of the Popular Foundation, highlighted the importance of the alliance between the CSR and Sustainability Chair, the Tú, Primero Program of the Vice Presidency of the Republic, the National Council on Climate Change and the Co-sponsoring companies, Grupo Universal and Grupo Ramos, all together to promote substantive changes in resilience at the community level. The latter is of fundamental importance because the greatest vulnerabilities and the greatest impacts from the effects of climate change are suffered at the local level.
Mr. Dinzey appreciated the high level and commitment of the participants in this new version of the Diploma, as well as the quality of the final works presented, which represent concrete tools applicable to real needs in various communities in the Dominican Republic.
When pronouncing his words, Moisés Álvarez, technical director of the CNCCMDL, welcomed the successful completion of the diploma and highlighted the importance of professionals and executives from Dominican institutions and companies accessing knowledge and innovations to support the most vulnerable communities in the country.
"Due to our high vulnerability, it is imperative to build resilience in communities against the negative impacts of climate change, such as more frequent prolonged drought events, extreme heat waves, reduced quality and yield of different crops, increased incidence of pests and rise in sea level. These impacts show how devastating this phenomenon is, so this training appeals to them to put into practice what they have learned to impact the territory ”, he emphasized.
The Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to assume a firm leadership in the fight against climate change, advancing in its efforts towards a more sustainable development, with fewer emissions and more resilient. This Diploma is part of the different efforts that we promote with the private sector, which has also assumed this challenge in a determined and responsible manner. Raising our capacities is a fundamental aspect to increase our planning, early warning and timely response to the risks that climate change imposes on the poorest communities.
On behalf of the participants, Carolina Stefani, representative of the Dominican Association of Housing Builders and Promoters (ACOPROVI), expressed: “this program must be repeated and expanded with the scheme and excellence that has been offered to us. We need to place the fight against climate change as a priority in the public, private and social agendas of our country. We have seen how a community can excel, empowering all the actors, sharing learning and collaborating. Companies must evolve, use the resilient communities approach as part of our sustainability strategies. This will be a new business and social paradigm”.
This first version of the diploma was given on the PUCMM Santo Domingo campus, and a total of 32 professionals from the Ministries of the Environment, Public Health, Economy, Planning and Development, Tourism, Agriculture, Works Public and Communications, Energy and Mines, Women, and the Presidency. The Emergency Operations Center, the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation, the National Meteorology Office, the National Statistics Office, the National Housing Institute, the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation and the General Directorate of Cadastre also participated. . The Commonwealth of Greater Santo Domingo, the Dominican Municipal League and the Municipalities of the National District and Santo Domingo Norte were also included, as well as the National Council on Disability, the National Council for the Aged and the Cabinet for the Coordination of Social Policies. .
The Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, ECORED and ACPROVI participated in the private sector. To these are added the Dominican Institute for Integral Development, the Environmental Network of Dominican Universities, the Church of God Volunteers, the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors and the Sacred Forest Foundation.
The Resilient Communities Diploma was sponsored by Banco Popular, the Vice Presidency of the Republic, the Universal Group, and the Ramos Group.
The closing took place on Thursday, October 31, 2019, in the Edific